This is a 2 Day combined course. The Non-restricted Canadian Firearms Safety Courses is completed on the first day. The CORE Hunter Education Course, as well as all testing, is completed on the second day.

Canadian Firearms Safety Course – Non-Restricted Only

This Canadian Firearms Safety Course runs over 1 day from 10 am to 5 pm. Testing is completed on a day following the instruction which is booked independently from the course. There is no additional charge for the testing.

This is the course required for your non-restricted Canadian Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL).

This course includes 8 hours of instruction on the date of the course and includes the testing which must be completed on a subsequent day.

Individuals younger than 18 years of age are only eligible to hold a non-restricted firearms license and as such will not be permitted to write the restricted portion of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course exam nor take the course for credit.

A minor’s license permits the borrowing of non-restricted firearms for:

target practice;

organized shooting competitions;

hunting; and,

instruction in the use of firearms.

A minor’s license also permits the acquisition of ammunition, unless there is an age restriction under the provincial or territorial law.

his CORE Hunter Education Course is completed over 1 day from 10 am to 5 pm. Testing is completed in the course time.

Successful completion of the CORE Hunter Education course is required to obtain your Fish & Wildlife ID (FWID). You need a FWID to buy a hunting license or to apply for Limited Entry Hunting. Formerly known as the resident hunter number.

The Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) Program is British Columbia’s Hunter Education Program. It is also a great program for anyone interested in outdoor recreation.

The CORE Program consists of a practical firearm handling test and a written examination on all of the following subjects:

The CORE Manual and the Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis are the resource manuals used to learn these subjects.

Please Bring:

Writing material ( Pen & Note Paper)

Government Issued ID & PAL

CFSC Proof of completion if applicable

Two tests required

The written examination consists of 75 multiple-choice questions based on the CORE Manual and the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.

You must obtain at least 56 points overall to pass the written examination. Supplemental information from the CORE Manual is not tested.

The practical firearms handling examination requires the safe handling of two of the five types of firearm actions, including the identification and loading/unloading use of dummy ammunition. A minimum score of 23 out of 30 is required for a pass. The examiner will provide the firearms.

Individuals who have satisfactorily completed the Canadian Firearm Safety Course (CFSC) need not complete the CORE practical firearm-handling examination.

You must provide the CORE Examiner with the completed CFSC report form showing successful test completion to be exempt from the practical firearms handling examination. A Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) and/or Possession Only Licence (POL) are NOT acceptable for the exemption to the CORE practical firearms handling exam.

Graduate Certificate

When both examinations have been successfully completed, the examiner will give the student a document of completion. The student must send this form, along with a $30 administration fee payable to the BCWF, to obtain a graduation certificate.